Choose Rust
Choose Rust if you want a Massively Multiplayer and RPG game with MMO, Online PvP, and PvP. 519,643 Steam reviews back the pick.
Rust vs HERD
Rust and HERD both land in Action, Indie, Adventure on Steam, which is why they keep getting compared. The comparison below is built from each game's Steam metadata — release year, genres, categories, Steam Deck status, price, and review score — refreshed daily by imho.run's scraper. Headline differences: Both share Action, Indie, Adventure on Steam. Rust (2018) is 8 years older than HERD (2026). Both support cooperative play. No login or purchase needed — scroll for the full table, the verdict FAQ, and links to ranked similar games for both titles.
Which should you pick?
Choose HERD
Choose HERD if you want a Casual game with Save Anytime. On Steam, it's the newer release (2026) and ships with the modern feature baseline. HERD launched in 2026.
Both Rust and HERD sit in Action, Indie, and Adventure on Steam and both list Multi-player, Online Co-op, and Adjustable Text Size, so either pick lands in the same broad neighborhood. Use the side-by-side table for the feature view, or follow the "Games like" links below to see ranked alternatives for either title.
Side-by-side comparison
 Rust |  HERD | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2018 | 2026 |
| Genres | Action, Indie, Adventure, Massively Multiplayer, RPG | Action, Indie, Adventure, Casual |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS | Windows, macOS |
| Steam Deck | Deck Unsupported | Unrated |
| Price | 19.99 USD | Price unknown |
| Steam reviews | 86.7% positive (519,643 reviews) | — |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer, Online Co-op | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op |
| Developers | Facepunch Studios | Game Night Studios |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Indie, Adventure on Steam.
- Rust (2018) is 8 years older than HERD (2026).
- Both support cooperative play.
- Rust is Deck Unsupported on Steam Deck; HERD has no Deck rating yet.
Rust vs HERD — FAQ
- Should I play Rust or HERD first?
- If you want chronology, Rust (2018) came out before HERD (2026). If neither is a sequel to the other, order doesn't really matter — start with whichever fits your current mood, since both share enough on Steam to make either a reasonable opener.
- Are Rust and HERD similar?
- They overlap on Action, Indie, Adventure on Steam, so the catalogue groups them together — but "similar" depends on the specific mechanics. Use the genre + category rows above to decide whether the overlap matches what drew you to the one you've already played.
- Do both Rust and HERD have co-op?
- Yes — both list a co-op category on Steam. Specifics differ: Rust ships Online Co-op, Co-op; HERD ships Online Co-op, Co-op.